2nd reading of the budget was passed in the parliament with a majority of 91 votes. 151 votes were in favor of the motion while 60 votes were against it. The UNP, TNA and DNA voted against it. UNP Colombo District MP Mohan Lal Grero who voted in favor of the motion subsequently crossed over to the government side.
(JNW)
November 30, 2011 at 5:35 pm
Japanese Special Envoy Yasushi Akashi says national approach is more suitable to achieve reconciliation in Sri Lanka. The Lessons Learnt and Reconciliation Commission appointed by the President has completed its work and its final report has been handed over to the President. He said Japan believes that the report will be made a public document in the due course and the government will implement its recommendations.
Addressing a media briefing held in Colombo today(30) Yashushi Akashi also said that when he met President Rajapaksa on last Monday he had emphasised the importance of building national reconciliation. In response the President has assured that his government is dedicated to achieving it. President Rajapakse had also pointed out that the government has to ‘tackle’ certain issues including resettlement, rehabilitation of ex- LTTE cadres and reconstruction of the war ravaged North for this purpose. When inquired about the Human Rights situation of Sri Lanka, the President has told him that a national action plan has been implemented to safeguard human rights.
November 30, 2011 at 4:50 pm
UNP MP Mohan Lal Grero has stated in the parliament that he will support the budget 2012. He said the decision was taken with the objective of serving for the next generation of the country, whom he loves very much. However, the MP emphasized it was not taken due to an invitation made by certain person or to gain any privilege.
He pointed out 90 % of the problems related to the country centers on shortcomings in the educational system. Therefore, a streamlined National Education policy is required to correct them.
While recalling that back in 2005 where the presidential election was held the MP said, on the request of UNP leader Ranil Wickremasinghe he prepared a series of proposals to streamline the education system. However, he said it was not included in Wickremasinghe’s election manifesto. He said that the educational proposals submitted by the committee headed by Dr. G.B. Gunawardena are similar to the proposals made by him.
(JNW)
November 30, 2011 at 2:20 pm
Jacqueline Fernandez, who is currently in Sri Lanka shooting for an ad campaign, is all set to sign her first Sri Lankan film. A source close to the actress says, “She is in Colombo shooting an ad for an international food brand. While there, she got offered a Sinhalese film.”
Budgets for Sri Lankan movies are quite small compared to Bollywood, and an actor there is paid around US $1,000 for a full-fledged role. “Since Jackie gets paid very well in Bollywood, the director and producer offered to pay her US $10,000 for the part. It’s too small an amount for Jackie, as she can make the same amount through appearances in India. But since the role is a cameo and she wants to do something in Sri Lanka, Jackie has decided to do the role for free.”
Jacqueline’s business manager confirms the development, “Yes, Jackie has been approached to do a Sri Lankan film. It is the country’s most expensive film till date and they plan to spend four times more on the budget. Jackie wants to do the film only because she wants to give something back to SL. It’s just one scene but they want to promote it as her first film there. After the Sri Lankan cricketers, Jackie is the most popular face there.” One of Sri Lanka’s biggest rock band, Bathiya & Santhush, has composed a song for the film and the makers want Jacqueline to be a part of the song too. “Though Jackie is very keen to do the film, currently we are working out the dates.”
(Times of India)
November 30, 2011 at 12:00 pm
The Airport and Aviation Services (Sri Lanka) Limited has announced the BIA Christmas Shopping Festival 2011, in partnership with the Arrival Duty Free shops and Departure/Transit shops with the strategic objective of promoting the Bandaranaike International Airport.
The promotion will be launched on December 01, 2011 and will be of a duration period of two months, running till January 31, 2011, giving commuters of BIA a significant period of time to reap the benefits offered by BIA.
As a part of the promotion, any passenger making a purchase of US$10 or more at any of the shopping outlets at the Arrival Duty Free and Departure/Transit shops is eligible to participate in the raffle draw. One lucky traveler will be rewarded with Grand prize of Zen Estilo motor car and five others will be rewarded with Rs. 01 million worth of cash prizes.
Commenting on the sopping festival, Chairman of the Airport and Aviation Services Limited Prasanna J. Abeywickramasuriya said that based on the great response received last year, the AASL is very enthusiastic about this year’s Christmas Shopping Festival as it anticipates commuters who travel via BIA to maximize on this opportunity to engage in their Christmas shopping and walk away with valuable prizes courtesy of the BIA.
(JNW)
November 30, 2011 at 9:24 am
A memorial silver coin was issued to mark the 125th anniversary of Ananda College, Colombo today(29) at the ceremony held at the Kularatne hall of the College to mark the occassion. The coin valued at Rs.2000/- is the first ever memorial coin issued on behalf of a school.
(JNW)
November 29, 2011 at 12:50 pm
6500 vehicles have travelled in the Southern Expressway in the first 24 hours after it was opened, Chairman of the Road Development Authority Ranjith Premasiri said. An income of more than Rs. 1.8 million was earned from it, he disclosed.
(JNW)
November 29, 2011 at 11:12 am
The Navy has ended its operation carried out in the Southern sea in search of the missing fishermen, the Disaster Management Center said. 23 out of 42 fishermen have returned to the island, it added.
(JNW)
November 29, 2011 at 11:10 am
Electricity supply in the Southern Province that was disrupted from the gale occurred recently will be restored by Saturday, Minister Patali Champika Ranawaka said. He made this disclosure while addressing a press briefing held at Southern Province office of Ceylon Electricity Board. There are 660 thousand electricity consumers in the Southern Province. Out of them power supply to 530 thousand have been disrupted. However, power supply to majority of them has been restored and only 65 thousand remain without electricity. Four high tension towers and five transformers have been damaged from the gale, The minister added.
(JNW)
November 28, 2011 at 8:45 pm
The Disaster Management Center says so far 16,837 families have been affected while 427 families have been displaced due to the inclement weather. The displaced have been temporarily sheltered in IDP camps. The Center added the number of deaths have gone upto 20 while the same number of persons have gone missing. It is also reported that 737 houses have been totally damaged.
(JNW)
November 28, 2011 at 8:15 am
An Expressway is to be built parallel to A-9 Jaffna-Kandy road linking North and South, President Mahinda Rajapakse disclosed addressing a public meeting held at Karandeniya to mark the commissioning of the Sri Lanka’ first ever Expressway, Southern Expressway. He added a network of Expressways will be created by the year 2013.
(JNW)
November 27, 2011 at 2:04 pm
Deaths occured due to weather conditions have gone up to 19 while 41 persons have been injured, the Disaster Management Center said. 43 persons have gone missing while 13,337 families have been affected, it added. Number of houses fully damaged is 630.
(JNW)
November 27, 2011 at 1:53 pm
The President has drove his vehicle in the Southern Expressway from Welipenna service area to Dodangoda interchange a short while ago. After driving to the Dodangoda interchange, he bought a ticket to drive back to Kurundugaha-hethekma interchange. Subsequently, the President drove to Karandeniya via Kurundugaha-hethekma where a public rally was held to mark the commissioning of the Expressway.
(JNW)
November 27, 2011 at 12:47 pm
Gateway to Miracle; the Southern Expressway was officially declared open by President Mahinda Rajapakse a short while ago. The President unveiled the commemorative plaque at the Pinnaduwa interchange marking the opening of the Sri Lanka’s first ever Expressway.
(JNW)
November 27, 2011 at 10:52 am
Gateway to Miracle; the Southern Expressway will be declared open for public by President Mahinda Rajapaksa today(27). This will be the first ever expressway in Sri Lanka. Total distance of the Expressway which runs from Kottawa to Galle is 96 kilometers. The expected travel time from Kottawa to Pinnaduwa when use this expressway will be about one hour.
It has been built at a cost of Rs. 85 Billion. The Expressway has 48 under-passes, 12 overhead-passes and 18 major bridges, including Sri Lanka’s longest bridge of 780 meters in length and 18 meters in width over the Bentara River. It also have eight interchanging points. They are situated at Kottawa, Kahathuduwa, Gelanigama, Dodangoda, Welipenna, Kurundu-gaha-hethepma, Baddegama and Pinnadoowa.
The maximum speed limit on the expressway is specified as 100 kilometers per hour. The main ceremony to mark the commissioning of the Expressway will be held at Welipenna area. Deputy Minister Nirmala Kothalawala says the southern expressway will be open for the public after 6.00 pm today(27).
(JNW)
November 27, 2011 at 7:00 am
Director General of Department of Irrigation G.G.A. Godaliyedda says 11 out of 69 main tanks in the island are overflowing. He added 6 spill gates of the Rajanganaya tank in Anuradhapura were also opened today(26).
(JNW)
November 26, 2011 at 5:53 pm
The ship ‘Sagara’ and 2 Dowra boats have been deployed in the southern sea by the Navy in search for the missing fishermen, the Southern Naval Commander Lakshman Ilangakoon said. It is reported that about 30 fishermen have gone missing due to the strong winds that were experienced in the southern part of the island yesterday(26).
(JNW)
November 26, 2011 at 5:22 pm
